Huge volunteer scheme launched for Anchorsholme Park

A volunteer programme has been launched by the Friends of Anchorsholme Park before its anticipated grand reopening this summer.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Anchorsholme Park was due to reopen in April this year, after it closed in 2015 to enable an £80m investment in the town's sewer systems by United Utilities.

But due to the lockdown during the current coronavirus pandemic, Blackpool council decided to cancel the reopening.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Coun Paul Galley, secretary of the Friends of Anchorsholme Park, was optimistic that the event would go ahead later in the summer, subject to Government guidelines.

Anchorsholme Park is in need of volunteers before it is reopened to the public.Anchorsholme Park is in need of volunteers before it is reopened to the public.
Anchorsholme Park is in need of volunteers before it is reopened to the public.

In anticipation of the reopening, the Friends group has launched a "radical" volunteering programme, designed to offer a role for everyone and even give opportunities to

residents based elsewhere around the world.

Coun Paul Galley said: "The volunteer programme represents an amazing opportunity for the community to directly contribute to ensuring Anchorsholme Park becomes a great park over the next five years, as well as having a lot of fun in the process.

"If we get this right, everyone wins. We end up with a great park with lots of people gaining new skills, new memories, and most of all, a great deal of happiness."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Volunteering roles have been drawn up by the group to include both practical and remote roles.

Remote roles the Friends team is looking to fill includes researchers, tasked with looking at ideas from parks and greens spaces around the world, funding bid writers, and park ambassadors, who would be responsible for helping with networking with businesses, schools and organisations around the Fylde coast.

Volunteers for various practical roles are also required, including a litter picking team to start before the park reopens, a gardening team, and a pond team.

Entertainment coordinators, dog walker ambassadors to help with organising dog activities, and park run marshals are also needed to help the Friends team, along with tennis, football, boxing and cricket coaches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun Galley continued: "We have a role for everyone regardless of ability or location. If someone has just one hour to spare, or lots of time, we have the structure in place to ensure everyone wins. Ultimately, the volunteers themselves would be the biggest winners."

If you would like to sign up for a volunteer application form, email Coun Paul Galley at [email protected].